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TRANSCRIPT
India’s Empires and Religions: Buddhism and Hinduism
Hinduism Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.
Hinduism
Basic facts: 1) Has no single
founder 2) 3rd largest
religion in the world a) 1 Billion
world-‐wide b) Most live in
India today
Hinduism
• 3000 years old • Brought to Indus River Valley Region by Aryans
• Vedas – Holy Text • WriKen in Sanskrit
– All are part of an all-‐powerful spiritual force called Brahman
• Not exactly PolytheisPc or monotheisPc….
Hinduism • Three most important Hindu Gods (forms of Brahman) – Brahma (creator), Vishnu (protector), Shiva (destroyer)
• Belief in reincarnaPon: Rebirth of the soul, or when the soul enters the body of another being – Respect for ALL living things
• UlPmate goal Moksha – Free the soul from the cycle of reincarnaPon & the soul can unite with Brahman.
Sacred Cow of India
Hinduism
Karma: Every acPon produces a JusPfied effect based on its moral worthiness.
Dharma: ethical duty based on the divine order of reality. The word is the closest equivalent to “religion.”
Rise of Buddhism • Emerged acer Hinduism
• Began in Nepal • Siddhartha Gautama – Founder of Buddhism
– Became known as the “Enlightened One”
– Born into royal life, lec to pursue search for religious truth and end to life’s suffering
• People seek enlightenment through meditaPon, instead of priests, formal rituals and gods
Four Noble Truths
– 1) All life is full of suffering and sorrow
– 2) Suffering is caused by a desire to saPsfy ourselves (being selfish)
– 3) The way to end suffering is to end all desires
– 4) End desire by following the eighfold path
* Steps you must take in order to reach NIRVANA
• Nirvana – Release from all selfishness and pain
• Eighfold Path: – 1) Right Understanding -‐ 2) Right aspiraPons – 3) Right speech – 4) Right Conduct – 5) Right livelihood -‐ 6) Right Effort – 7) Right Mindfulness -‐ 8) Right ConcentraPon
Eight Fold Path
Buddha • Accepted the idea of reincarnaPon • Rejected the many gods of Hinduism
• Rejected the caste system
• Did not want to be worshipped
What they have in common
• Both goals for the religions – – Involve a perfect state of understanding – Break from the chain of reincarnaPon
– Nonviolence
First Empires of India
Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.
The Maurya Empire • Chandragupta: gained power in Indus Valley – Conquered northern India – Maintained order with a well organized government
• Supervisors • Tax collectors • Royal court system
– EffecPve but harsh leadership • Secret police force
Asoka
• Most honored Maurya emperor • Grandson of Chandragupta • Was involved in war, then turned to Buddhism – Became peaceful – Rule by moral example – Brought peace and prosperity – Unite his diverse empire – Paved the way for Buddhism in his empire
From Maurya to Gupta
• Asoka died, Maurya power declined – Rival groups baKled for control
• 500 years later, Gupta dynasty unites India – (Golden Age)
Empires: China
Religion and Philosophy in China
• Confucius – Scholar – Social order and good government – Respect for elders
Daoism • Sought to live in harmony with nature – The Way of Virtue
• Best government was the one that governed the least (government is unnatural, and therefore, caused many problems.
• Proper form of human acPvity – act in harmony with the universe and let nature take its course – Yin & Yang – harmony needs 2 elements to be in balance
Legalism
• Hanfeizi – way to achieve order is to pass harsh punishments
• “The nature of man is evil. His goodness is acquired”
• Provide rich rewards to those who obey • Punish those who don’t
Qin Dynasty • Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty – Shi Huangdi-‐ “First Emperor”
• 13 years old – United China
• Promoted unity by – Standardizing coins – Uniform wriPng system – Extend roads and canals
• Harsh rule – Banished books on Confucius – Ruled by Legalism
Shi Huangdi
– Plots to have him killed • Family members • Became paranoid
– Died suddenly at age 39 – TerracoKa soldiers (next slide) • 8,000 life-‐size figures of warriors and horses • Built to defend Shi Huangdi in the acerlife
Shi Huangdi
• Great Wall of China (over 6000 miles long) – Symbolized unificaPon of Chinese people to want to protect their civilizaPon • Keep invaders out, keep Chinese people in
– Work on the wall or die • Many died anyway while working
• Buried in the wall
• Shi Huangdi’s death • Taken over by the Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E – 220)
– Restore order and jusPce • Lowered taxes • Eased harsh Legalist policies • Appointed Confucius scholars as advisors • Made Confucianism official belief system of the state
• Government officials should win posiPon by merit instead of family background
Achievements of the Han Golden Age
• Trade: Silk Road (trade route stretched 4,000 miles eventually linking China to FerPle Crescent
• Science: Chemistry, astronomy, seismology,
• Medicine: AnesthePcs, herbal remedies, acupuncture
• Technology: manufacture paper, rudder system, sPrrups, wheelbarrows, suspension bridges, fishing reels
• The Arts: Temples, Palaces, jade and ivory carvings